The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-20
SENT TO SING SING.
Sharp Sentenced to Four Years Imprison-
msnt and to Pay q Fins Of $1,000.
Pitiful Scene In the Court of Oyer aud
Termiaer-Judge Barrett's Arraign-
ment OF the Prisoner.

morning at O'clock. His wife sat by his
bedside through the night tanning him
while he was asleep and giving him cool.
ing drinks, when he awoke, at intervals.
After he arose from bed she assisted him to
dress for his second trip to the court OF
| Oyer and Terminer to receive sentence.
/ DE bore the same listless, indifferent, al
| most dazed manner noticeable in him since
| his conviction. He appeared almost IN
| conscious OF the attention his wife lavished
| on him and scarcely exchanged a word
| with her. Sharp remained sitting in his
reclining chair with his wits beside him
| tanning him until the hour came at which
be was to start for the court house. He had
been able to take bat little nourishment
l and " as very weak. II was 1850 oc.JcK
| when the carriage drove away from the
l jail, aud jast twenty minutes later il
1 stCppt d before the County Court Ho Use.
| The party alightei and passed through the
lane made for them by the Police through
he waiting crowd OF curious spectators 70
the sheriff office, aud thence 60 the court
/ room Sharp was so weak that in going
10 the carrisge fro IN the Jail and on Leaving
1 it on his way into the court house aud uD
be stairs 10 the court room, il was nee -
Serv FIR tho "tfirars guarding him to sup
port his tottering form.
Judge Barrets, whose illness yesterday
compelled pDstponement of the sentence
| of the convict man had recovered suffi-
| GENTLY to-day % be present in court. He
| arrived at TIA court house at almost the
| same moment as the prisoner. The clock
was indicating almost noon when Sharp
| was carried inIo the courtroom. His suf-
| feTing wife and s0n-inlaw were close be-
hind him, and deep lines of WEAKNESS and
| sorrow oveTspread their faces as they seat
| ed themselves beside the convicted man
| and famed his livid face without bringiog
| anything like q semblence of color to IT,.
Sharp sat with clasped hands aud bowed
head at the foot of the table facing the
bench. HIS face, almost buried in his
chest, became flushed and sickly-looking
under the riveted gaze of all present who
were silently staring at the convicted rail
road king. Mrs. Sharp and the rest of
his family like the prisoner himself, was
silent.
The excitement was becoming quite fever
ism when sudden hush came over the
room as three raps on the door announced
the entrance of Judge Barrett, at exactly
1915 o'clock. After calling the court, Mr.
MARITIME got up land stated that, as he
heard the defense had some remarks to
make, he wished to hear them. Mr.. Mitch
ell responded, saying that he had no ap-
plication to put in for a delay, but would
move for a new trial, and wished the stem
ographer to make q note OF the fact Judge
Barrett said that if the document contain
ed nothing new he would deny the appli-
cation for new trial.
Mr.. Mitchell then read the paper, stating
that the trial was an unfair one; in several
ways the jury was prejudiced against the
client and gave an unfair verdict. More
over the judges charge was an unjust one.
Judge Barrett stated that the motion
would be de MED. District Attorney Mar
tin stood up TO move the court to sentence
the prisoner. He stated he considered il
his duty to ask the court to appoint ply
sicjans TO loOk into the prisoners condition
of health. and read some certificates from
Drs. Allen, Hamilton and JaneEay, to
the effect that the prisoners health was
very bad, and that he was suffering from
diabetes, Inflammation OF the kidneys and
organic disease of the heart, which were of
serious import to a man OF seventy years.
He then read DR.. Hamilton's report on the
condition of Sing-Sing and the arrange
ments for the care of the sick, which, ne
said, were OF most excellent character all
around, and the place was most healthily
situated; I'm view of these facts, =" con-
cluded Mr.. MARITIME, there is nothing
left for NE to do but to move for the SEN
tence of the prisoner" Mr.. Mitchell
made q last appeal for the defense. He
said he did not wish 70 delay tbs court,
but would ask the judge to temper justice
with mercy.
Judge Barrett proceeded to deliver the
sentence. He said that he had never per-
formed so delicate a task in his whole pro-
fessional career. He had received many
letters from many people pleading mercy
and otherwise. But court was not APP
pointed to be merciful any more than was
dictated by the laws of justice. The de-
PENDANT here is asking for mercy and can
give nothing as plea for clemency bat age
and sickness. On the merits OF the case he
certainly is entitled to none. It is absurd
to state that he was not guilty of giving
the bribes as he was Enthusiastically the
leader of the whole affair. We have not
here. as in the case OF the aldermen, any
attempt to prove the defendants good
character. The crime itself was an enor-
nous one, the raising OF half a million OF
dollars to corru pit halfa legislature.
Judge Barrett reviewed the corrupt &C.
ton of the defendant in forming bogus
company to contract with the Seventh
Avenue railway, of which he was a direc-
tor, and referred to the defendants secuE-
ing $l,OO0OOO Of profit as sheer
larceny, for which he could have been
Indicted just as well for bribery.
He added: "What is there to excite pity
or mercy except the age and i'll health OF
the prisoner and the mourning condition
of his family? With over 81 ,000, 900 in his
pocket he clamors for mercy with
out offering to pay back penny
he had stolen. Should he die Cor go
to prison his family has vast
fortune to fall back upon" At this Mrs.
Sharp buried her face in her handkerchief
and wept silently, while the prisoner him
self did not lift his face from the table.
1.-THE legislature does not allow US to go
below the minimum penalty in such a
grave offense as the present is, continued
Judge Barrett Gan can not be satisfied
those who clamor for the prisoners re-
ceivipg the full penalty of the law and
those calling for reprimand. All things
have been considered, and the judgment
of this court is that the prisoner be con-
fined four years at hard labor and that he
pay fine OF S., 000."
An attempt at applause was made in one
corner of the court as the sentence was
pronounced, but 1t was quickly sup
pressed.
AS some of the spectators moved out OF
court Mr.. Mitchell stood up to ask for de-
lay in the removal of Sharp to Sing Sing
until he had settled some affairs in the
city. Judge Barrett denied the motion, as
there was no provision Of law tor such a
course of action, and he did not think 1t
would be deserved by the prisoner If there
was.
At that moment cheer was heard out
side the sentence was ANNOUNCED o.
those who had lett the court room. Tae
audience then began 70 melt away quickly.